GRAND RAPIDS – More than 5,000 American flags were planted next to the headstones of veterans within 15 minutes on Wednesday evening as hundreds of Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts took time to honor those who have served the country at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans’ cemetery.

Bob Porter, the organizer of the event, said nearly 1,200 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from greater Grand Rapids made their way to the facility to participate in the ceremony, which has been held for about 20 years.

“It’s the only event in the year where all the scouts can get together and show vets how much we appreciate what they’ve done for us,” he said. “It’s a way to remember and a way to honor.”

Thomas King, 14, said he’s come to the event with his Boy Scout troop for the past few years as a way to honor the state’s veterans.

“These people gave their lives to defend our borders,” he said.

Several speakers addressed the crowd before the group trooped across the street for the flag placement. Many echoed the message of using the event as a way to take time to appreciate those who have lost their lives while working to protect the country.

Arnold Paolucci, originally of Bad Axe, has lived in the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans for three years and watched the group from the sidelines. He said he served in the Army for three years for World War II, mainly stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and the Mariana Islands near the Phillipines.

Although he said he doesn’t like to talk much about his time in the service, he appreciated the scouts taking the time to visit the home.

“It’s wonderful,” he said.

Before the group entered the cemetery, they were greeted with a flyover from a B-25 bomber, a bomber used heavily during World War II.

David Wheeler of Wyoming, who served four years in the Coast Guard and several more with the Naval Reserve Seabees, said his family has a long history of military involvement and he enjoyed watching such a large group of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts plant flags at the event to honor those who have served and give back to the community.

“Scouting is a terrific organization and I’m sure all the vets appreciate it,” he said.